Plaque

HMV store

Inscription

363 Oxford Street - the world's most famous music store.
July 1921 - April 2000
HMV
Site of the original HMV store, opened by Sir Edward Elgar in July 1921, the HMV store shaped the way people bought music for nearly a century.
In 1962 it played a significant role in the career of The Beatles. A 78 RPM demo disc of the band was cut in the store's recording studio - this led to The Beatles' long-term recording contract with EMI.
Plaque unveiled by Sir George Martin CBE, 26 April 2000.

Chosen as the featured memorial in December 2004, for lots of reasons. Firstly, it commemorates, amongst others, the Beatles, which shows memorials don't have to be about stuffy history. Also, it illustrates the point that not all blue plaques are "blue plaques" (as installed by English Heritage). But really to commemorate Bob Baker who died in October 2004. A good friend for 30 years and fellow Londonophile, he helped us find memorials - we would have missed this one completely if Bob hadn't spotted it. But his real love was cinema - he had seen, and remembered, an awful lot of movies and was generous in his reviews and with his knowledge. Well-respected and widely published, including the Time Out Film Guide, his reviews and criticisms are his memorial.

Site: HMV store (1 memorial)

W1, Oxford Street, 363

Londonist draws our attention to some wonderful pictures of this store in the 60s at Voices of East Anglia.

The plaque can just be seen in our photograph of the building. It is at eye level at the very left of the building.

Credit for this entry to: Bob Baker

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
HMV store

Subjects commemorated i

The Beatles

George Harrison,  John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr.

Read More

Sir Edward Elgar

Born in Broadheath, near Worcester.  First moved to London on his marriage in...

Read More

original HMV store

Londonist writes: "The building was destroyed on Boxing Day 1937 and reopened...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
HMV store

Created by i

Sir George Martin CBE

Music producer. Born George Henry Martin in Highbury. He worked for the BBC's...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

William McMillan

William McMillan

SW3, Glebe Place, 63

A local resident said that this plaque (and the one next door, to Sir Alfred Munnings) is spurious and was erected by developers purely t...

1 subject commemorated
Marc Bolan shrine - plaque - Currie

Marc Bolan shrine - plaque - Currie

SW13, Queen's Ride

This site has evolved over the years from flowers place around the tree to become the shrine that it is today.  The steps were probably i...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Charlton House mulberry tree - 2

Charlton House mulberry tree - 2

SE7, Charlton Road, Charlton House

The plaques are on the ground at the foot of the tree. The tree is one of several which are reputed to be the oldest in Britain. The buil...

2 creators
Teddington Studios

Teddington Studios

TW11, Broom Road, Camera House

The first set of plaques erected for these TV stars were replaced with this set, at the riverfront.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Mortimer Wheeler

Sir Mortimer Wheeler

WC2, Whitcomb Street, 27

English Heritage Sir Mortimer Wheeler, 1890-1976 Archaeologist lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator